Rare Early Walnut and Marquetry Scriptor Escritoire, circa 1715

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About the Item

A very rare walnut scriptor of small proportions and with a most attractive figuring and colour. The scriptor has beautiful and original marquetry inlays to the fall and interior door and the fall and each of the drawers have double featherbanded borders. The side panels have deep crossbanded borders. These were costly additions at the time this scriptor was made in circa 1715. Each design was created by a skilled craftsman who would cut and inlay the thousands of tiny shards of exotic woods by hand. The lower case with two over two graduated drawers, each drawer retains its original full oak lining and is in solid and robust condition. The drawers all open and close smoothly. Original bracket feet, and original backboards and top boards. Good quality ogee waist and cornice mouldings and a concealed cushion fronted drawer just below the cornice, again with its original full oak lining. Some old shrinkage and restoration to the exterior face of the fall, stable and not going anywhere and shown in our photos. A few old and dead worm holes here and there. Dings, dents and marks consistent with 300 years of careful use. Some small repairs and restorations but nothing unpleasant or noticeable, brass handles are late 18th century period replacements and have attractive colour and wear. These minor faults reflected in our very reasonable price and entirely normal for antique cabinets of this great age. The outer face of the fall with flowing foliate marquetry in sycamore, burr oak, satinwood, yew wood and maple. The inner face of the fall is inset with a high quality oxblood hide and opens and closes very smoothly, resting firm and flat on the on original hand-forged iron hinges and with an early working key. Lots of space inside for laptops and paperwork. The fine inner drawers have small brass button handles and these also retain their full oak linings with tiny dovetailed joints. The small drawers open and close smoothly and are robust and usable. The central door is beautifully inlaid with satinwood, oak, harewood, maple and ebony in a complex geometric pattern with moulded borders strung with satinwood. Of small proportions, this beautiful piece of early walnut furniture will light up any room and is entirely practical for use in todays wireless world, having space for a laptop in the central well and a strong and flat writing surface at a height which will work with a standard desk chair. Strongly recommended, a really rare and beautiful early 18th century marquetry scriptor. Dimensions are: 41.5 inches wide (max), 21 inches deep (max) and 66 inches high. Height from floor to fall when lowered is 31.5 inches and the depth of the scriptor when the fall is lowered is 45 inches. For metric please multiply by 2.5.

Dimensions:
Height: 66 in (167.64 cm)Width: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Depth: 21 in (53.34 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Period:
1710-1719
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1715
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Dallington, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU4469216698081